Clark Wilson out front at Canadian Open

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TORONTO – Tim Clark shot a bogey-free 6-under 64 on Friday for a share of the second-round lead with Dean Wilson in the Canadian Open in another low-scoring day at straight-hitter friendly St. George’s.

Wilson had his second straight 65 to match Clark, The Players Championship winner in May, at 10-under 130 on the hilly, tree-lined course.

“I certainly didn’t expect to be scoring like that around this course,” Clark said. “I felt like it was going to be pretty tough. I’ve been able to drive it really well. … Driving the fairway is a huge key on the course and I’ve done that.”

Wilson closed with a 20-foot par putt on the par-4 18th after missing the fairway.

“That was a nice way to finish off the day,” said Wilson, the 2006 International champion. “You can’t ask for a better position.”

Brent Delahoussaye and Steve Wheatcroft were a stroke back. Delahoussaye had a 69 a day after matching the Canadian Open record with a 62.

“It’s tough to follow up an 8-under-par round,” Delahoussaye said. “So, I figured anything under par today would be great for me. I’m pleased with the round.”

Kevin Sutherland had the best round of the day, matching the tournament record with a career-best 62 to reach 5 under.

Sutherland took advantage of soft, receptive greens and calm early conditions after rain delayed the start for two hours. Because of the wet conditions, players were allowed to use preferred lies in the fairways.

“If you drive the ball in the fairway, with the greens being soft, it’s not that hard,” Sutherland said. “If you get in the rough, this golf course can really beat you up. And I did a pretty good job of keeping the ball in the fairway.”

After opening with a 73, Sutherland was 5 under on his first four holes Friday, making an eagle on the par-5 11th. The 2002 Match Play Championship winner played the front nine – his first and last eight holes – in 5-under 29.

“It got kind of silly,” Sutherland said. “The hole just got so big for me. I was just making putts from everywhere. I made a putt on the last hole that I don’t even know how far it was. Seventy feet? I’m guessing, 60 feet.”

Canadian star Mike Weir missed the cut for the 12th time in 20 Canadian Open starts, following his opening 72 with a 74.

“You can’t score from the rough,” said Weir, fighting tendinitis in his right arm.

Adam Hadwin, a 22-year-old former Louisville player from British Columbia, shot a 66 – holing a 15-foot par putt on 18 – to top the 18 Canadians at 6 under. Stephen Ames, a naturalized Canadian citizen from Trinidad and Tobago, was 5 under after a 68.

“That’s pretty exciting for me,” said Hadwin, making his first PGA Tour start. “Coming up to that putt on 18, I looked at the scoreboard and I saw Ames at 5, and I knew I was at 6, so I wanted to make that putt to stay low Canadian. That was a huge momentum boost for me for the weekend.”

Hadwin and Delahoussaye were in the same group.

“He’s a good player, and just fresh out of college, and doesn’t look like any of this is affecting him,” Delahoussaye said. “Some young guys get a little nervous out here, but he’s hitting it well. He hits it long and he can putt it really well.”